What to Do if You Hit a Deer With Your Car

Hitting a deer with your car is bad for everyone. In fact, if you get through the situation uninjured, you are pretty lucky. There are over 1.5 million accidents involving deer per year. Deer accidents send 10,000 people to the hospital and kill about 200 people per year. Who knows how many deer die because of cars? What can we do as drivers to reduce injuries to ourselves, our cars and the deer?

How Not to Hit a Deer

1.Slow down when you see a deer.

2.If you see one deer, there are apt to be more.

3.Deer are nocturnal. Pay closest heed at night.

How to Hit A Deer

If you are going to hit a deer, what can you do? If the deer goes through the windshield, it can kill you with its dangerous hooves. Is there a proper way to hit a deer? Some people will tell you to speed up into the deer in order to point the hood upwards. You should not do this. Here is what to do:

From the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Although deer-vehicle collisions can cause extensive vehicle damage, most serious injuries and fatalities are caused by drivers taking evasive actions," said Kathy Swanson, director of Driver and Vehicle Services with the Department of Public Safety. "Drivers need to avoid swerving into oncoming traffic or leaving the road which can cause them to hit a tree or other object. It's safer to hit a deer than to risk hitting another vehicle or a fixed object such as a tree," she said. "Apply your brakes firmly, hold onto the steering wheel and bring your vehicle to a controlled stop.

What to Do About That Deer in The Road

If you are positively sure that the deer is dead, you can remove it from the roadway. I would advise against touching it. The deer may be alive, and it can strike you with its powerful legs. Then you'll be lying in the road with the deer. The best thing to do is dial 9-1-1. If the deer is moving, pull your car, if mobile, in front of oncoming traffic and turn on your hazards. This will stop others from hitting the deer. When the police arrive, fill out an accident report for insurance purposes. The police will be able to call the proper local authorities about the deer.

Keeping the Deer Meat

It is illegal to claim a deer carcass without a permit. If you do take the carcass, you must report the accident to the authorities. You can ask a law enforcement officer for a permit to keep a deer carcass. You can eat the deer yourself, or you can donate the meat to charity. Make the best out of a terrible situation.